tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4th until after 8th, pushed along and in touch bend before 2 out, no extra before last, lost 3rd flat
led until 10th, led and jumped left 11th, hit 14th and headed, led 16th, headed 2 out, weakened last
chased leaders, went 2nd after 8th, led 10th, headed next, led 14th until 16th, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, driven 15th, effort 4 out, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, mistake 1st, lost place before 5th, not fluent 8th, well beaten from 15th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders until 3 out, weakened quickly
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, some headway after 3 out, soon weakened
chased leader until 5th, stayed handy, led 2 out, pressed last, stayed on well and holding 2nd final 100 yards
mid-division on inside, closed when pecked 3rd, not fluent 9th, mistake and lost place 15th, headway 4 out, fading when mistake 2 out, weakened
not fluent, mistake 3rd, towards rear from 6th, behind when pulled up before 13th
held up in mid-division on outside, mistake 2nd, not fluent 4th, headway 12th, 5th 2 out, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd flat, no chance with front pair
towards rear, mistake 1st, mistake 10th and rider nearly unseated with both legs one side of the saddle, great recovery, headway 12th, weakened from 4 out
held up in rear, struggling from 13th
Second to Vinndication in this last year, when ahead of Black Corton and the unpredictable Mister Malarky, Regal Encore recorded a third course victory here last December. His absence since February is a slight concern but he never seems to run a bad race on this track and is still on a fair mark. There has been ante-post support for Commanche Red and he has been lightly raced over fences. Valtor is closely matched with the selection on February running so goes on the shortlist but stablemate Might Bite looks a shadow of his former self. Walk In The Mill may be warming up for another tilt at Aintree’s Grand National fences but has won over track and trip. WHATMORE has proved frustrating but ran well off this mark in a couple of hot handicaps in the spring so gets a tentative vote.
Black Corton (FR) 5-1fav (11-12) Held up mid-division, slightly hampered 6th, headway approaching 3 out, reminder after 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd close home, not trouble winner, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Mister Malarky (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Might Bite (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up, always towards rear, 7th of 14, dist behind Easysland (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) sft in Mar.
Mister Malarky 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, driven before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, behind when pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Walk In The Mill (FR) 13-8 (10-12) Prominent, hit 3rd, not fluent 5th, pushed along after 3 out, hit last, kept on same pace to take 2nd last strides, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Blackjack Kentucky (10-12) at Chepstow 3m (4) hvy in Jan.
Commanche Red (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, hit 4th and slightly lost place, rallied 10th, plugged on in 3rd from 2 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 10 1/4l behind Who Dares Wins (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.
Valtor (FR) 6-1 (11-3) Mistake 1st, patiently ridden in rear, not fluent 9th, hit 11th, steady headway tracking leaders 15th, went 2nd 4 out until 2 out, kept on same pace, went 2nd again last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Ballyoptic (11-10) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Feb.
Blaklion 7-1 (11-12) Held up, slow 3rd, headway after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 13, 11 1/4l behind Sykes (11-8) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Regal Encore (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Raced wide and prominent, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner when lost 2nd last, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Ballyoptic (11-10) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Feb.
Adrien Du Pont (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division on inside, steady progress 13th, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 6th of 14, 10 1/4l behind Mister Malarky (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Flying Angel (IRE) 40-1 (11-11) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders 3 out, never on terms, ridden and weakened before last, 9th of 23, 20 3/4l behind Milan Native (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Militarian 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division, lost place and behind from 14th (water), no danger after, 12th of 23, 28 1/2l behind Milan Native (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Townshend (GER) 16-1 (11-12) Towards rear, slow 4 out, awkward 3 out, ridden before 2 out, never a factor, last of 11, dist behind I'd Better Go Now (10-9) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Whatmore 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 12th, headway when not much room on inside after 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 20, 12 3/4l behind Imperial Aura (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Django Django (FR) 8-11fav (11-4) Close up in rear, driven and outpaced after 4 out, ridden before next, never able to challenge, well held in 4th from 2 out, 4th of 5, 17 1/4l behind Stradivarius Davis (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f (4) sft in Mar.
